Home to some of the continent\u2019s most beautiful beaches, multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and national parks frequented by bears and wolves \u2014 Montenegro is arguably Europe\u2019s best kept secret. There are far fewer crowds here compared to its northern neighbour Croatia, so you\u2019ll often have many of the country\u2019s sites and attractions entirely to yourself \u2014 particularly out of season. So, without further ado, here\u2019s our roundup of 14 of the best things to do in Montenegro:<\/p>\n
1. Cruise the beautiful Bay of Kotor<\/h2>\n
If you\u2019ve heard of Montenegro, then you\u2019ll likely have heard of the Bay of Kotor. It\u2019s one of the Med\u2019s most striking landmarks and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1979. Around 28km (17 mi) long, it\u2019s surrounded by two striking massifs of the mighty Dinaric Alps \u2014 one of Europe\u2019s most impressive mountain ranges stretching over 645km (401 mi) in length. <\/p>\n
The best way to see the bay itself is via a boat cruise that takes you across the cobalt waters to \u2018Our Lady of the Rocks\u2019 \u2014 a tiny islet home to a large Catholic church and accompanying museum. Rumour has it that the island was created over the centuries by seamen laying rocks here after each successful return voyage. The practice continues to this day at an event called fa\u0161inada<\/em> \u2014 when local people head to the island every July 22 at sunset. <\/p>\n Cruise across the Bay of Kotor on: Highlights of Montenegro<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Lace up your hiking boots and get ready to weave your way through the most stunning alpine scenery Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo has to offer. As you cross the passes between borders, tasty dinners await you and your hiking mates at guesthouse after mountain guesthouse including in Montenegrin hamlets like Babino Polje. In the Ropojana Valley, considered a natural wonder in Montenegro, you\u2019ll find jagged peaks and natural waterfalls in a valley carved out by an ancient glacier. Prepare to feel breathless at much more than just the walk itself! <\/p>\n Scale alpine borderlines on: Hiking in Albania, Kosovo & Montenegro<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n A fantastic place to connect with nature, the Lu\u0161tica Peninsula is set at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor and home to secluded coves, medieval fortifications, and tranquil fishing villages. This is where you\u2019ll get to see the real Montenegro, as local people still live as they have for centuries, growing produce delicacies like olives, cheese, wine, prosciutto, and rakija<\/em> \u2014 a fruit brandy considered the national drink of many Balkan countries.<\/p>\n It\u2019s an incredibly picturesque place and best explored on foot, with a set of two wheels, or via a boat or kayak \u2014 particularly if you want to see hidden gems like the \u2018Blue Grotto\u2019 cave. If this sounds a bit secluded, you can get your bar and restaurant fix in Lu\u0161tica Bay \u2014 an upmarket spot set around a yacht harbour.<\/p>\n Dubbed the \u2018City of the Sun\u2019, Herceg Novi is a captivating place famous for its glorious weather, ancient fortresses, charming squares, and seafood eateries. It\u2019s a great spot to spend a few days, particularly if you\u2019re a history buff. While there\u2019s plenty to see and do, the star of the show is arguably Fort Mare \u2014 a magnificent fortress dating way back to the 13th century. They show occasional open-air cinema screenings and hold concerts here from time to time , so it\u2019s worth checking out what\u2019s on.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also worth hiking up Mount Orjen, whose summit lies at 1893m (6210 ft). There tends to be snow up here for half the year, and it\u2019s got world-class mountain biking trails too if you\u2019re into something even more adventurous. Vineyards abound in the nearby countryside, and you should also make your way to nearby Igalo, with both hot springs and healing sea mud.<\/p>\n The vast Lake Skadar measures an impressive 400 sq km (154 sq mi), meaning it\u2019s officially the Balkans\u2019 largest lake. A serene spot, it\u2019s surrounded by dramatic karst mountains and is renowned for being one of the best places in Europe to go birdwatching. Expect to see a whole host of water birds here, including pygmy cormorants, squacco herons, and endangered Dalmatian pelicans.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking to explore the smattering of charming villages dotted about the lake, then we\u2019d recommend renting a bicycle. Don\u2019t miss a visit to Vidikovac Godinje\u2069\u2066 \u2014 an observation deck with panoramic vistas over the glittering lake.<\/p>\n The tiny town of Perast is one of the best-preserved towns on the entire Adriatic Coast, and home to 17 Baroque churches and 19 churches. Not bad for a place that can be walked from end to end in a matter of minutes. It\u2019s well worth a visit for history buffs, as this UNESCO-listed spot has influences going all the way back to the Neolithic Period \u2014 otherwise known as the final period of the Stone Age.<\/p>\n Wander around here and soak up the scenery \u2014 maybe stop for a cold glass of wine or an iced coffee to call off from the midday sun. Speaking of the sun, get yourself here for sunset \u2014 it\u2019s arguably one of the best in the whole of the Adriatic.<\/p>\n Located just a stone\u2019s throw from Kotor and an easy day trip, Lov\u0107en National Park is a must on any visit to Montenegro. It holds a special place in the heart of all Montenegrins, and the towering mountain in the centre, Mount Lov\u0107en, soars to an impressive height of 1,749m (5738 ft). <\/p>\n It\u2019s also the final resting place of Petar II Petrovi\u0107-Njego\u0161 \u2014 a PrinceBishop (or monarch), poet, and philosopher considered to have brought both modernity and centralization to Montenegro during his reign. The mausoleum set atop Lov\u0107en \u2014 or \u2018Black Mountain\u2019 \u2014 is well worth a visit and you can hike the trails here to soak up postcard-like views.<\/p>\n Now if you\u2019re looking for some glitz and glam, make your way to Porto Montenegro in Tivat. Looking more like Monaco than Montenegro, it underwent a massive refurb back in 2009 and 2010 and now attracts the rich and famous \u2014 thus, a great place for people watching.<\/p>\n You can admire the superyachts as the cruise in from the Bay of Kotor, but if you\u2019re looking for some entertainment options, then head to the nearby \u2018Lifestyle Village\u2019. Here you\u2019ll find a whole gamut of fancy boutiques, restaurants, bars, and even a museum.<\/p>\n Explore Tivat and Porto Montenegro on: Montenegro Sailing \u2014 Dubrovnik to Dubrovnik<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Speaking of bars, there\u2019s a whole lot of them on the Budva Riviera \u2014 a 35km (22 mi) long strip of the glittering Adriatic Coast boasting beautiful beaches, a warm climate, and plenty of entertainment options. The epicentre here is arguably the town of Budva, which is easily Montengro\u2019s most-visited spot. <\/p>\n Yes, you\u2019re bound to be sharing it with plenty of other people \u2014 including many cruise holidaymakers during the summer season \u2014 but if you\u2019re looking to let your hair down, then this is the place to do it. There are plenty of places here to dance until dawn, but you can also tuck into world-class seafood and while away the hours on the beach. Don\u2019t miss a visit to the Stari Grad (Old Town), home to the ruins of a Roman-era Necropolis.<\/p>\n Arguably one of Montenegro’s most impressive regions, there\u2019s plenty to see and do in this scenic spot carved out by glaciers. Durmitor National Park is one of the last bastions of wilderness in Europe, and synonymous with towering limestone peaks \u2014 48 in fact \u2014 shimmering glacial lakes, and extensive pine forests. <\/p>\n It\u2019s a major ski area come the winter months of December to March \u2014 and much more affordable than its European counterparts \u2014 as well as a major region for mountain biking, hiking, and wild swimming. There\u2019s plenty of wildlife here too \u2014 keep your eyes peeled for soaring golden eagles, wild boar, newts, chamois, and even brown bears and wolves if you\u2019re lucky!<\/p>\n Hike in Durmitor National Park on: Montenegro: Medieval Towns & Mountain Views<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The mighty Tara Canyon is 1300m (4265 ft) at its deepest point, 82km (50.9 mi) long, and billed as \u2018The Tear of Europe\u2019. It\u2019s a truly magnificent feat of nature, and the best way to see it is by jumping aboard a white water raft to tackle the rapids of the aquamarine Tara River. At some points of the year they reach an adrenaline-inducing class five. Note to self \u2014 you will get soaked! <\/p>\n Situated in a picturesque valley of the Lim River and surrounded by high mountains, the pleasant town of Bijelo Polje lies in a remote part of the country \u2014 meaning you really get away from it all. <\/p>\n You\u2019ll find no five-star resorts or hordes of tourists here \u2014 this is where you\u2019ll find the country at its most traditional, so it\u2019s a great place for insight into the local way of life. There are plenty of caves located just outside of town, as well as several thermal springs thought to have healing properties. The best time to come is arguably spring when chamomile flowers begin to blossom \u2014 it\u2019s the reason why the town takes its name \u2018White Field\u2019 in Serbo-Croatian.<\/p>\n2. Hike along alpine Balkan borderlines<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net\/media-server\/dynamic\/blogs\/posts\/G-Adventures\/2025\/01\/blog-things-montenegro-hiking-couple.webp\" "\\"Montenegro")
<\/figure>\n3. Sample local eats on Lu\u0161tica Peninsula<\/h2>\n
4. Explore Herceg Novi’s ancient buildings<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net\/media-server\/dynamic\/blogs\/posts\/G-Adventures\/2025\/01\/blog-things-montenegro-herceg-novi.webp\" "\\"Herceg")
<\/figure>\n5. Birdwatch in the Balkan\u2019s largest lake<\/h2>\n
6. Wander the tiny town of Perast<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net\/media-server\/dynamic\/blogs\/posts\/G-Adventures\/2025\/01\/blog-things-montenegro-perast-town.webp\" "\\"Perast")
<\/figure>\n7. Hike through Lov\u0107en National Park<\/h2>\n
8. Admire yacht life in Porto Montenegro<\/h2>\n
![\"Golden](\"https:\/\/media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net\/media-server\/dynamic\/blogs\/posts\/G-Adventures\/2025\/01\/blog-things-montenegro-porto-yachts.webp\" "\\"Porto")
<\/figure>\n9. Party til dawn on the Budva Riviera<\/h2>\n
10. Get active in Durmitor National Park<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net\/media-server\/dynamic\/blogs\/posts\/G-Adventures\/2025\/01\/blog-things-montenegro-durmitor-hiking.webp\" "\\"Durmitor")
<\/figure>\n11. Tear down the Tara River on a raft<\/h2>\n
12. Head off the map in Bijelo Polje<\/h2>\n
![\"Overlooking](\"https:\/\/media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net\/media-server\/dynamic\/blogs\/posts\/G-Adventures\/2025\/01\/blog-things-montenegro-bijelo-poljie.webp\" "\\"Bijelo")
<\/figure>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net\/media-server\/dynamic\/blogs\/posts\/G-Adventures\/2025\/01\/blog-things-montenegro-croatia-snorkel.webp\" "\\"Croatia")
<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"